![]() ![]() Casting decisions are often made with significant forethought and Seattle’s arts leadership is actually well-represented from a gender perspective. Perhaps unlike tech, the Arts & Culture industry often leads the way in terms of making deliberate and authentic decisions regarding equity, inclusion, and diversity. What is the gender balance like in the theater industry? There is a lot of talk in Seattle about gender equality, especially in the technology sector. Unlike a movie, or even a concert to some extent, there’s something about a live performance that cannot be replicated – it’s such a visceral cultural experience and I think that remains the draw for our performances. That said, what theater really brings to the table is the live experience. Now, people tend to want to go home after work. It used to be that Friday night was the start of the weekend and people were clamoring for shows. It’s admittedly a tougher sell than it was 15 years ago when I started at The 5th. ![]() With so many options for entertainment these days, how do you encourage people to go to the theater? This is not an event that would have been successful in LA. I recently went to a performance of local actors reading poetry and the venue was absolutely packed. We have very rich arts and culture community here and I’ve found that performances are much more focused on the art, rather than the celebrity. In contrast, I consider Seattle to be one of the top three theater cities (alongside New York and Chicago). In my experience, Los Angeles is a movie town and it is very celebrity-driven. I was actually born and raised in Walla Walla, a few hours outside of Seattle, so when the opportunity arose to come back, I couldn’t have been more excited. What would you say is different about the theater scene here in Seattle? You’ve worked in the Arts industry in both New York and Los Angeles, and now in Seattle. Read on for some of Bernie’s thoughts about the importance of the Arts and how she engages with the local Seattle community. Interested in checking out a show at The 5th? Get your tickets for Austen’s Pride, Mrs. Bernie’s team is responsible for all fundraising, marketing, finance, information services and facility operations of the theater as well as oversight of all activities related to the Board of Directors. She established the first-ever Development Department at The 5th Avenue Theatre and in her tenure the organization has grown from a $10 million to a $25 million organization. This past week, we were honored to have Bernie Griffin, Managing Director at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater, join us in the Skilljar offices for a fireside chat and for our ongoing Chats with Interesting People Series (CHIPS).īernie is a longtime advocate and patron of the Arts, having held leadership roles at the National Actors Theatre in New York City, the Laguna Playhouse in Los Angeles, the Seattle Symphony, and currently, at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, the nation’s leading musical theater company.
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